Bert and Ernie cuddle for New Yorker gay marriage cover

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NEW YORKER (PIX11) – It’s only been three days since the U.S. Supreme Court reached a new milestone for gay rights, when the federal government announced that it would now recognize same-sex marriages in states where it has been legal.

Since then, there has been an outbreak of support and euphoria throughout the country.

The New Yorker encapsulated the feeling in their next cover, with a private moment between Bert and Ernie from the children’s show ‘Sesame Street’ — two best friends who live together and have long been the rumored to be a gay couple.

The cover, created by Jack Hunter, depicts Bert and Ernie cuddling together on a sofa watching television. The image on the screen is none other than the Supreme Court justices who voted in favor of gay rights on Wednesday.

The Daily Beast reported, which some would be shocked to learn, “the cover was actually created last year for a competition, but with President Obama on the TV set instead of the Supreme Court and timed to the president’s statements on his evolving views on gay marriage.”

“It’s amazing to witness how attitudes on gay rights have evolved in my lifetime,” said Hunter, who named the piece, “Moment of Joy.” This is great for our kids, a moment we can all celebrate.”

This may be the reason why the cover has become so powerful. Bert and Ernie have been around for a lifetime, and many of the activists fighting for gay rights have grown up with the two best friends, making the photo both sentimental and relatable. Many say that the New Yorker cover sums up their arguement perfectly, “love is love”.

While some find it comforting to pretend that the two puppets are romantically linked, some disagree, saying that the sexual orientation of the puppets has never been officially announced by Sesame Street.

In fact, in 2011 the Sesame Street Workshop posted on their facebook page:

“Bert and Ernie are best friends. They were created to teach preschoolers that people can be good friends with those who are very different from themselves. Even though they are identified as male characters and possess many human traits and characteristics (as most Sesame Street Muppets™ do), they remain puppets, and do not have a sexual orientation.”